Mowing-machine



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

- J. W. JAMES.

MOWING MACHINE.

No. 462,558. Patented Nov.3, 1891.

. Java/ W7." fill 17027726 "m: mam: rETzns co., mom-mun, wAsum uuuuuuuc.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet '2.

J. W. JAMES. MOWING MACHINE.

No. 462,558. Patented Nov. 3, 1891.

Whasmax I myezgfor. e]Zu% Wefwmem (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4. J.JAMES. MOWING MACHINE.

Patented Nov. 3, 1891.

{yr/i JawZWJiune/y 0w fig? V5 NlTED drains PAT NT OFFICE.

JACK \VM. JAMES, OF CUBA, TENNESSEE.

MOWlNG-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 462,558, dated November3, 1891.

Application filed January 9, 1891! Serial No. 377,243. (No model.)

To all whom it rim/y concern Be it known that I, JACK M. JAMES, acitizen of the United States, residing at Cuba, in the county of Shelbyand State'of Tennessee, have invented new and useful Improvements inMowing-\[achinos, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its objects to simplify and improve themowing-machine described and shown in my Letters Patent No. 445,894,dated February 23, 1891; to provide a novel cutter-bar and finger-barwhich are economical in construction and very durable and efficient inoperation; to provide novel means for relieving the cutter box fromshock when it is swung to place the cutter-bar and finger-bar in ahorizontal position in proximity to the surface traversed, and toprovide novel means whereby the swing-frame is antomatically locked whenit is swung on the axle to elevate the cutting mechanism. To accomplishall these objects my invention in volves the features of construction,the combination or arrangement of devices, and the principles ofoperation hereinafter described and claimed, reference being made to theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of amowinginachine constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is asimilar View showing the parts adjusted to produce a thrust-cutmowing-niacinne. Fi -2 3 is a detail perspec' tive view of theswing-taupe. Fig. st is a detail top plan view of the swing-frame andthecutting mechanism. Fig.5 is a sectional side elevation of theswing-frame with the cutterbox in position. Fig. 6 is a verticalsectional view taken on the line a, Fig. 7. Fig-7 is a horizontalsectional view taken on the line 1 1 ,Fig. U. FiaS is a(letailperspective view of the cuttcr-box. Fig. 9 is a detailperspective showing a portion of the upper section of the finger-bar.Fig. 10 is a similar view of a portion of the lower section of thelinger-bar. Fig. 11 is a detailsectional view of the fingerbar andcutter-bar, taken on theline .2',Fig. 1-. Fig. 12 is a detailperspective view showing parts of the cutter-bar. Fig. 18 is a detailperspective view of one of the cutters. Fig. 11 is a detail brokenperspective viewof portions of the linger-bar and cutter-bar.

In order to enable those skilled in the art to make and use myinventioinl will now describe the same in detail, referring to thedrawings, wherein The numeral 1 indicates the non-rotaryaxle of themowing-machine, provided with looselyniounted traction or ground wheels2 and 3, of which the latter is the main drive-wheel for transmittingmotion to the cutter-bar. The shafts 4 are rigidly secured to the axleby suitable clips 5' or any other devices which will prevent rotarymovement of the axle. The shafts extend in rear of the axle to aid insupporting the seat-carrying bar (3, which is secured to the axle by aclip 7. The main drive-wheel is mounted on the axle between the parallelside bars 8 of a swing-frame 5), which is journaled on the axle atornear the middle of its length and is adapted to swing thereupon in avertical plane. The swing-frame extends rearwardly from the axle to apoint behind the main drivewheel, where it is provided with foot-pieces10, that constitute what may be term ed a pedal. The front end of theswing-frame is formed or otherwise provided with a vertically-extendingarch 12, having a horizontal extension 13 provided with an arm 14, whichis vertically slotted, as at 15, to receive the journal of asupporting-wheel 16, adapted to travel on the surface traversed, therebyaiding in supporting the front end of the swing-frame during theoperation of the mowing-machine. The journal of the wheel 16 can beadjusted in the vertical slot 15 for the purpose of adjusting the frontend of the swing-frame relativel y to the surface traversed, if suchshould be desired. The swing-frame is provided with semicircularsocket-bearings 17 to receive the laterally-extending stud journals ortrunnions lS, provided at the opposite sides of the cutter-box 19, suchjournals or trunnions being confined in proper position by capplates 20,bolted or otherwise detachably secured to the swing-Era me in suchmanner that the cutter-box is retained in proper position and canoscillate or swing in a vertical plane. A drivingshatt 21, journaled insuitable bearinus on one side of the swing-frame, passes loosely throughthe cutter-box and its stud journals or trunnions, such shaft, however,

.the clutch-section is disengaged from the clutch-section 24 thedrive-shaft 21 will remain inactive, or, in other words, will not berotated. The clutch-section 25 is acted on by a spring 26,. which tendsto press it toward the clutch-section 24; but a lever 27 andlocking-catch 28 are provided for the purpose of locking theclutch-section 25 out of engagement with the clutch-section 24, as shownin Fig. 3.

1n the cutter-box 19 is arranged a yoke 29, which at its bottom portion30 moves in guideways 31 on the bottom Wall of the cutter-box and at itstop portion 32 moves in a guide 33, provided on the top wall of thecutter-box. The lower or horizontal arm or portion 30 of the yoke 29 isrigidly attached to a cutter-bar, hereinafter described, and the yoke isreciprocated rectilinearly through the medium of a triple cam 34,rigidly attached to the driveshaft 21 within the eutter-box,and havingits three cam projections 35 adapted to operate upon tappets 36, formedwith or otherwise provided on the lower and upper portions or arms 30and 32 of the yoke 29. The triple cam is preferably composed ofcast-steel with the cam projections chilled, and as the cam is rotatedby the drive-shaft the alternate contact of the cam projections with thetappets will reciprocate the yoke substantially in a manner described inmy patent hereinbefore alluded to. If, however, the clutch-section 25is'held from the engagement with the clutch-section 24, by adjusting thelever 27 and looking it in the position shown in Fig. 3 the machine canbe moved forward or back and cutter-bar, and consequently the cuttingmechanism remaiusinactive until the clutchsections are again engagedwith each other.

The rear portion of the yoke is provided with a spring or elasticcushion 37 and the forward end of the arm or portion 32 is provided witha similar spring or cushion 38, which springs or cushions are adapted tostrike the end walls of the cutter-box to ayoid the noise which mightarise if the metal yoke struck the ends of the cutter-box.

Thefinger-bar hereinafter described is rigidly attached to thecutter-box, and since the latter can oscillate or swing in a verticalplane, it will be obvious that the cutter-box can be turned on itshearings to place the cutter-bar and finger-bar in an approximatelyperpendicular position. The outer end of the finger-bar is provided witha divider 39 and supporting-wheel 40, and, if desired, a handlerod 41may be employed for the purpose of swinging the finger-bar andcutter-bar in a vertical plane with the cutter-box. If this handle-bar41 is properly arranged, the driver can reach over and operate it forthe purpose of lifting the finger-bar and cutter-bar should occasiondemand.

The swing-frame 9-is connected near its front end with the shaftsthrough the medium of a coiled or other spring 42, which detachablyconnects with a hook 43 on the swingframe' and a hook 44 on the shafts.The Ohjcct of this spring is to yieldingly sustain orbalance theswing-frame and aid in supporting the weight of the cutter-box and ofthe cutter-bar and fin ger-bar, while the weight of the driver in theseat behind the axle serves to counterbalance the weight which isthrown,

on theshafts by the spring connection of the swing-frame with theshafts.

The cutter-box, and consequently the cutter-bar and fin ger-bar, can beraised relatively wheel 45, which is rigidly secured to the axle by akey or otherwise, and on the swingframe is arranged apawl 46, which ispressed.

into engagement with the ratchet-wheel through the medium of a spring47, Fig.5. The spring-pawl is provided with a rod-handle 48, arrangedWithin convenient reach of 'the driver, so that the pawl can be disenthedesired position, when the pawl will antomatically spring intoengagement With a tooth of the ratchet-wheel, and thereby lock theswing-frame in the position to which adjusted.

The swing-frame is preferably of cast-steel in order to give itrequisite strength to sustain the various working. parts thereupon. Themain drive-wheel is provided with an annular gear 49, which isconstantly in engagement with the loose pinion 23 on the driveshaft 21in such manner that whenever the clutch-sections 24 and 25 are inengagement the drive-shaft will be rotated and a reciprocating movementimparted to the cutter-bar through the medium of the triple cam, asbefore explained.

The shafts are preferably of the shape illustrated, in order to permitthe draft-animal to travel approximately in line with the maindrivewheel when the machine is used as a front-cut mower, Fig. 1.

The whifi'letree 50, to which the draft-animal is hitched, connects by adraft-chain 51 with a hook or eye 52 on the arched part 12 of theswing-frame, so that the draft strain is on the latter if the inachineisadjusted as exhibited in Fi g. 1. By providing the cutter-box withindependent supporting stud journals or trunnions l8, and arrangingthedrive-shaftQl. to pass loosely through the stud journals or trunnionswithout, in fact, having any supporting contact therewith, I entirelyavoid bending of the cutter-box on the drive-shaft when the cutter-boxis swung in a vertical plane, and also avoid binding of the cutterbox onthe drive-shaft, which binding is objectionable where the cutter-box isjournaled upon and solely supported bythe drive-shaft.

To relieve the cutter-box and swing-frame from shock when the cuttingmechanism is swung downward into a horizontal position, I provide thecutter-box with a cushion composed of a lateral projection 53, Fig. 8,having a leaf or other spring 54 riveted or otherwise attached theretoin such manner that when the cutting mechanism is swung downward theleaf-sprin g will come in contact with the under side of the swing-frameand thereby avoid sudden shocks. This projection, with its springattachment, also serves as a stop to the cutter-box for the purpose ofholding the finger-bar in a horizontal position.

In Figs. 9 to 13, inclusive,l exhibit my improved construction offinger-bar and cutterbar. The lower section 55 of the finger-bar iscomposed of a plate of cold-rolled steel pressed and cut by a die intothe shape represented, or it may be made of cast-steel. This section isstrengthened at the rear edge by a vertical flange 56, and the outer endof the section is turned vertically to form an arm 57, having a slot 58for the vertical ad1 justment of the supporting-wheel 40. Theright-angular construction of the section 55, formed by the flange 56,serves to hold the finger-bar rigid and straight. The upper section 59of the finger-bar is also composed of a piece of cold-rolled steelpressed and cut into shape, or it may be cast, and this upper section isriveted or bolted or otherwise secured to the lower section 55, as inFig. 11. The lower finger-bar section 55 is struck or stamped upintegral with the gang of lower finger-sections 55, each of which isformed with a transverse channel 55". The upper finger-bar section 59 isalso struck or stamped up integral with the gang of upper finger-sections 59, each formed with a transverse channel 59 When the twofinger-bar sections 55 and 59 are rigidly united, the gangs offingersectious 55 and 59 rest upon each other, and the channels 55 and59 provide the required space for the travel of the cutter-bar and thecutters, which I will now describe.

A steel rod or bar 60 is provided at each end with a shoulder 61. Tothis rod or bar are secured the cutters 62, one of which is exhibited inFig. 13. The cutters are arranged on the steel rod 60 so that they abutagainst each other and exactly fill the space between the shoulders 61.The steel rod or bar 60 is fitted and rigidly attached within ahollowboxing 63, formed of a plate of steel bent or crimped into shapewith open ends and a longitudinal slot 64, and the steel rod or barcarrying the cutters 62 may be secured in the hollow boxing 63 in anysuitable manner; but I prefer to rivet it therein at one end. The rod,with its cutters, exactly fills the hollow space in the boxing 63, whilethe points of the cut-ters project through the longitudinal slot (34 andoperate in thefingers of the finger-bar. The inner end of thecutter-bar, constructed as described, is accurately fitted and rivetedto the lower arm or portion 30 of the yoke 29.

By the construction described I am enabled to properly retain thecutters 62 in position without riveting or bolting them to the steel rod60. As exhibited by Fig. 13, the cutters are each composed of aright-angled piece, so that the rear extremity of the cutter is formedwith a pendent heel-piece, which projects downwardly between the steelrod 60 and the adjacent side of the hollow boxing 63, whereby thecutters are firmly and rigidly secured in place.

The steel rod or bar 60 may be provided at one end with an orifice, asat 65, to receive a pointed instrument for the purpose of withdrawingsuch rod or bar when it is to be replaced by a new one. Thisconstruction of finger-bar and cutter-bar is advantageous in many ways,in that the parts are strong, durable, and economically manufactured,and the cutter-bar and cutters can be easily renewed when occasiondemands.

By constructing the swing-frame with a pedal-extension in rear of theaxle to be operated by the foot of the driver I providefor a niceadjustment of the cutting mechanism relatively to the surface traversedand dis pense entirely with the hand-lever and connections heretoforeemployed, whereby the machine is not only rendered more desirable andefiicient, but it can be manufactured more economically and enables thecutting mechanism to be raised and lowered at the will of the operatorwithout the necessity of using his hand or hands for accomplishing thatobject.

In the machine illustrated in Fig. 1 the parts are adjusted for what Iterm a frontcut mower; but I have so constructed and organized theelements of the machine that I am enabled to convert it from a front-cutinto a thrust-cut mowing-machine, as seen in Fig. 2, where thefinger-bar and cutter-bar travel in a path directly in rear of thedraftanimal. To effect the change from the front cut to the thrust cutthe shafts are detached,

the traction-wheel 2 and the ratchet-wheel 45 are removed from the axle,and the latter is slipped through the main drive-wheel 3, and thetraction-wheel 2 is then applied to the axlcs'as in Fig. 2. Theratchet-wheel 4:5 is rigidly fastened to the axle in any suitablemanner, as by a key, and the shafts and seat-carrying bar are applied tothe axle and secured by the clips 5 and 7. Bythis arrangement the maindrive-Wheel and the swing-frame are placed at the lefthand end'of theaxle and the traction-Wheel 2 is arranged at the right-hand end of thesame, which is the reverse of the arrangement exhibited in Fig. l. Thedraft-chain 51 is engaged with the axle, as at 66, and the springconnection 42 is connected with a hook 67 on the shafts and with thehook or eye 68 on the swing-frame. The operation of the parts remainssubstantially the same, except, of course, that the finger-bar cannot beswung to aperpendicular position,butstillit can swing with the cuttenboxto a limited extent in a vertical plane.

By the vertical adjustment of the wheels 16 and 40 the position of thecutting mechanism relatively to the surface traversed can be varied.

The cutter-box is provided atone end with a sliding plate 69 for thepurpose of introducing the yoke 20 and its attachments.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim ise 1. In amowing-machine, the combination, with an axle having rigidly-attachedshafts and a ratchet-wheel, of a swing-frame journaled on the axle andhaving a pedal-extension in rear thereof, a spring-actuated dog carriedby the swing-frame and engaging the ratchetwheel, a handle for operatingthe pawl to disengage it from the ratchet-wheel, a cutter-box carried bythe front portion of the swing-frame, a fingerbar connected with thecutter-box, a cutter-bar, and means for operating the latter,substantially as described.

2. In a mowing-machine, the combination, with an axle havingrigidly-attached shafts and a loose main drive-wheel provided with anannular gear, of a swing-framejournaled on the axle and extendingin rearthereof as a pedal for the foot of the driver, cutting mechanismconnected with the front end portion of the swing-frame, a ratchet-wheelrigidlyconnected with the axle, and a springactuated pawl carried by theswing-frame, engaging the ratchet-wheel'and having a handle fordisengaging it therefrom, substantiall y as described.

3. In a mowing-machine, the combination, with a non-rotating axle havinga rotary driving-wheel, of shafts rigidly attached tothe axle, aswing-frame journaled to and swinging in a vertical plane upon the axle.and extended in rear thereof as a pedal for the foot of the driver,cutting mechanism carried by the front end portion of the swingframe, aspring connected at its upper end drivers seat located in rear of theaxle and rigidly attached to the latter, substantially as described.

4. In a mowing'machine, the combination, with an axle,of a swing-framejournaled thereupon, a cutter-box journaled on the front end portion ofthe swing-frame and provided with a lateral projection having a springadapted to strike the under side of the swing-frame when the cutter-boxis swung in one direction, a finger-bar carried by the cutter-box, acutter-bar, and means for reciprocating the cutter-bar, substantially asdescribed.

5. In a mowing-machine, the combination of a finger-bar composed ofupper and lower sections, each struck or stamped up integral with a gangof finger-sections, with a cutterbar consisting of a hollow boxinghaving a longitudinal slot and a rod or bar inclosed within and rigidlysecured to the hollow boxing, and cutters secured in place between therod or bar and the top wall of the boxing and extending through thelongitudinal slotin the,

latter, substantially as described. 6. In a mowing-machine, thecombination of a finger-bar composed of upper and lower sections, eachstruck or stamped up integral with a gang of finger-sections providedwith transverse channels, with a cutter-bar con sisting of ahollowboxing having alongitndinal slot and moving in the channels of thefinger -sections and a rod or bar inclosed within and rigidly secured tothe hollow boxing, and cutters held in place between the rod or bar andthe boxing and projecting through the longitudinal slot of the latter,substantially as described.

7. In a mowing-machine, the combination of a finger-bar composed ofupper and lower sections, each struck or stamped up integral with a gangof finger-sections having transverse channels, with a cutter-bar movingin the transverse channels and consisting of a hollow boxing having alongitudinal slot and a rod or bar inclosed within and rigidly securedto the hollow boxing, and right-angled cutters having the pendentheel-pieces at their rear ends confined between the rod or bar and therear side of the hollow boxing, substantially as described.

8. In a mowing-machine, the combination of the upper and lowerfinger-barsect-ions respectively formed integral with gangs of tinger-sections and one finger-bar section having its rear edge formedintegral with an upwardly-projecting longitudinal stiffeningfiange,against which rests the rear edge of the other finger-bar section, witha reciprocating cutter-bar moving back and forth between the upperandlower finger-bar sections and having cutters which operate betweenthe upper and lower finger-sections, substantially as described.

9. In a mowing-machine, the combination,

with a wheeled axle, of a shiftable frame mounted on the axle andcarrying drive mechanism and cutting devices, said frame, with its drivemechanism and cutting devices, being adjustable on the axle to move thecutting devices from a position outside to a position between theground-wheels for converting the machine from a front-eut into athrust-cut mower, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal inthe presence [0' of two subscribing witnesses.

JACK WM. JAMES.

\Vitnessesz,

C. W. IIARBERT, J. P. YOUNG.

